This time, Our govt are really famous 
Sep 14, 4:15 AM EDT
IMF-World Bank criticizes Singapore for barring entry of some activists
By CHRISTOPHER TORCHIA
Associated Press Writer
SINGAPORE (AP) -- Singapore breached an agreement by barring 28 activists from entering the country to attend the annual meetings of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund, the institutions said Thursday.
"We're very displeased with the current state of affairs," said Kevin Shaw Kellems, senior adviser to World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz. "There was not an indication until late in the game that there was going to be a problem."The dispute highlighted tension between Singapore's strict controls on politics and expression, and efforts by the IMF and the World Bank to be more open to the views of grassroots groups that have accused them of elitism. It also threatened to taint Singapore's efforts as host of the Washington-based groups to showcase its economy and hospitality on a global stage.
Singaporean police had said the activists would not be allowed entry for the IMF and World Bank meetings on Monday and Tuesday because they had been involved in "disruptive activities" in other nations. They did not identify the activists, but said some had participated in anti-globalization protests that turned violent in Seattle, Italy and Mexico.
Kellems, however, said the IMF and the World Bank had accredited the activists, and that Singapore's rationale for denying entry was unclear.
"There's insufficient clarity. I see on-the-record comments from various (Singaporean) officials on various days," he said at a news conference at the convention center where the meetings will be held.
"You may have seen some of the flavor of those comments; words like 'security,' words like 'undesirable,' words like 'troublemaker,' that sort of general characterization, but never have I seen a consistent coherent explanation," Kellems said.
The World Bank official read a statement accusing Singapore of violating a Sept. 23, 2003, agreement on the attendance of accredited activists at the meetings, and he urged Singapore to let them come."We work with these representatives of civil societies, and we value their role - even when we disagree with what they say," the statement said.
Some foreign activists already in Singapore for the meetings said they planned to boycott some official events in protest.
"It's such a shame that Singapore hasn't opened its arms to everyday people who just want to talk about the World Bank meetings and state their cases," said Sandy Krawitz, spokeswoman for South Africa-based ActionAid International.Singapore's police said it objected to the accreditation of the 28 activists for the meetings, The Straits Times newspaper reported.
"If they decide to come to Singapore, we will assess their suitability to enter Singapore subject to a set of security criteria," a police statement said.
Singapore's police said it deported two Filipino activists and one Indian activist who were not accredited.
"Following interviews, and after full consideration of the circumstances, it was decided that the three persons should be deported as it was assessed that they posed a potential security and public order threat to the annual meetings," a police statement said.
The European Union urged Singapore to allow accredited activists into the country for the conference of the IMF and World Bank.
"The (EU) presidency attaches great importance to an open and constructive dialogue between civil society and the World Bank institutions," said a statement issued by Finland, which currently holds the rotating EU presidency.
Singapore banned outdoor demonstrations during the IMF-World Bank meetings, saying they could lead to violence and damage to property. It set aside an indoor area where activists can gather to express their views.
In Indonesia, media said the government will allow activists to gather on Batam island, a short ferry ride from Singapore.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/A/AS_FIN_SINGAPORE_WORLD_BANK_ASOL-?SITE=ASIAONE&SECTION=SOUTHEAST&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2006-09-13-23-04-03
